Rheostat.



H. J. WIEGAND.

,RHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1912.

Q I Q? Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENB YJ. WIEGAND, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

RHEOSTAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed August 2, 1912. Serial No. 712,929.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. WIEGAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rhcostats, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a. part of this specification. My invention relates rheostats. It is particularly applicable to rheostats of the disk type but includes features applicable to other types of rheostats. The various objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter set forth.

For the purpose of clearly and fully disclosing the nature and advantages of my invention I shall describe the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood thatmy invention is susceptible of modification.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is. a front elevation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view. 7 p

The rheostat selected for the purpose of illustration is one of the disk type, particularly applicable to theater dimmers. It comprises an insulating circular base 1, preferably of soap-stone,'in which is embedded a resistance not shown and a circular series of contacts 2 connected to the resistance. It has a duplex lever 3 movable over the co tacts 2 to vary the resistance. It has heretofore been proposed to provide, rheostats of this and similar character with metallic casings to protect the same and to facilitate to improvements in the mounting thereof upon asuitable sup-' porting base or frame. Such casings, however, are open to numerous objections, among which may be mentioned the expense thereof, the space occupied thereby and the dllfi': culty of firmly securing the rheostat base therein. Of course, iscircular it must not only be secured within the casing but must be locked against rotary slippage. The necessity for such casings is entirely eliminated inthe rheostat shown in which a peripheral band 4 serves all of the purposes of the casing and also other purposes. The band 4 is preferably formed in two parts a and b of substantially the same size although in practice the same may be and designed to carry where the rheostat base formed in any number of sections and the sections may be of any preferred size. Each ofthe sections a and o is provided at op 0- site ends with radial lugs or ears 5 an 6. Bolts 7 and 8 pass through the lugs of one section and thread into the lugs of the other section, thereby providing a very simple means for drawing the sections together to tightly clamp the same on the rheostat base. The band may in practice merely comprise a flat strip but I prefer to provide the band with annular flanges 9 (Figs. 1 and 3) to en gage the opposite faces of the rheostat base thus insuring against lateral displacement of said band. Further, I preferably bevel the edges of the base 1 as indicated at 10 and provide the flanges 9 of the band with converging inner faces 9 engaging said beveled edges of the base. This insures a tight grip of the band on the base by wedging action. Where the rheostat is provided with peripheral terminals, such as the terminals 11 and 12 illustrated, I prefer to provide the band with a peripheral opening 13 to receive said terminals and to Widen the flanges 9 and 10 at the sides of this opening, as shown at 10 The widened flanges reinforce the band contiguous to the opening. The band is preferably metallic and rigid.

It will be observed that when the band 4 is clamped onto the rheostat it reinforces, strengthens and protects the same. It will further be observed that the band becomes an integral part of the rheostat and that the structure as a Whole occupies only a ve slightly greater space than the base itself. Still further, it will be observed that the band forms a very convenient means for attaching the rheostat to a suitable frame or other form of support.

The supporting frame shown is of a type particularly-adapted for theater dimmers aplurality of rheostats side by side. It comprises L-shaped end members 15 having cross bars 16, 17 and 18, two at the back and one at the bottom of the frame. Where the rheostat is to be mounted upon such a frame the band 4 is preferably provided with peripheral lugs 19, 2-0 and 21,

tending ear 22. The ears of the lugs 19, 20

bars 16, 17 and porting frame.

each having a laterally ex-' ters Patent is:

' tial relation between the band and the base.

However, various otherrneans might be provided for this purpose. 3"Hav ing, th11js described, my invention what I claim as new and desife tosecure by Let- 1. A rheostat providedwith a rigid fiat base for carr ing the electrical parts, and a I land inter supporting band extending around'said base ocked therewith to prevent slippage thereon. I

2. A rheostat provided with a rigid fiat circular base for carrying the electrical parts and a'reinforcing and supporting band extending around the periphery of said base,

said band beingclampe to said base and positively secured against lateral displace ment. r

3.A rheostat provided with a fiat base and a band surrounding the same and clamped thereto, said band having side flanges on opposite sides ofsaid base.

f 4. A"'rheostat provided with a circular base and a peripheral band clamped thereto, said band being providedwith annular side 3 flanges.

5. A rheostat provided with a circular base and a peripheral band clampedthereto, said band being provided with annular side flanges, and peripheral silpporting lugs. 3

6. A rheostat provided with a circular base having terminals on the periphery thereof and a peripheral reinforcing and supporting band clamped to said base, said band having an opening to receive said ter- 4 minals and annular sidevfianges, said side flanges being of increaseddimensions contiguous to said opening. 7 I

; 7. The. combination with a rheostat havingL-a rigid fiat base for carrying the elec- 4 trica-l parts, of a supporting frame therefor, and 'a clamping band surrounding said base and secured to said frame in a perpendicular relation thereto. r I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- 5 scribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. i. a HENRY J. WIEGAND.

Witnesses: I

ALFRED HALVERSON,

' M. R. FENNO. 

